Method for processing rubber products

Abstract

An apparatus and method for energy efficient recycling of reinforced rubber products, such as tires, conveyor belts, and the like, wherein the rubber is reinforced by cords or belts of steel, nylon, fabric and the like. The presence of the reinforcement materials poses not only a necessity to separate the rubber therefrom but also poses a problem of disposing of the reinforcement materials. By placing the reinforced rubber in an environment of ozone (O 3 ) and applying a force to the rubber, the rubber breaks down leaving the reinforcement materials for ready disposal. The method and apparatus thereby provide an energy efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally safe and acceptable technique for recycling reinforced rubber products.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An energy efficient, cost effective and environmentally safe process for disposing of reinforced rubber products, comprising the steps of: positioning a reinforced rubber product in a chamber, exposing the rubber product to ozone, deforming the rubber product so as to create a strain on the rubber, maintaining the deformed rubber product in the ozone for a period of time to disintegrate the rubber product to thereby separate the rubber from a reinforcement material, and   removing the disintegrated rubber product from the chamber.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of exposing is carried out by directing a flow of an ozone/gas mixture into the chamber. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2, additionally including the step of forming the ozone/gas mixture so as to contain from about 0.01% to about 10% ozone. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 2, additionally including the step of forming the ozone/gas mixture using a gas selected from the group consisting of air and oxygen. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 2, wherein the step of deforming the rubber product to produce the strain is carried out so as to result in a strain load of at least 0.5 Kg/cm 2 , and a deformation of about 1 to 10%. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of deforming the rubber product and creating a strain on the rubber is carried out by mechanical means capable of producing a strain load of at least 0.5 Kg/cm 2 . 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 1, additionally including the step of withdrawing any residual ozone from the chamber prior to the step of separating the rubber from the reinforcement material. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of exposing the rubber product to ozone is carried out by providing an ozonizer for generating an ozone/gas mixture composed of 0.01 to 10% ozone. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 8, wherein the step of deforming the rubber product so as to create a strain on the rubber is carried out by mechanically compressing the rubber product to generate a strain of at least 0.5 Kg/cm 2  on the rubber. 
     
     
       10. The process of claim 9, wherein said rubber product is reinforced with metal or fiber belts. 
     
     
       11. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of separating the rubber from the reinforcement material is carried out by collecting the reinforcement material within the chamber and removing the same from the chamber, and removing the rubber from the chamber. 
     
     
       12. The process of claim 11, additionally including the steps of withdrawing any residual ozone from the chamber prior to the separating step, and processing the residual ozone. 
     
     
       13. The process of claim 12, wherein the step of processing the residual ozone is carried out by operations composed of recirculating the residual ozone back into the chamber. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 12, wherein the step of processing the residual ozone is carried out by operations composed of destroying the residual ozone catalytically. 
     
     
       15. The process of claim 14, wherein said rubber product is an automobile or truck tire. 
     
     
       16. A method for the decomposition of rubber tires reinforced with steel belts comprising the steps of: positioning the tire in a chamber,   placing the tire under load to deform the tire and create a strained state of the rubber,   directing an ozone/gas mixture into the chamber,   maintaining the tire in the ozone/gas mixture for a period of time to cause decomposition of the tire, and   separating the steel belts from the rubber.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, additionally including the step of generating the ozone/gas mixture so as to be composed of 0.01 to 10% ozone. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of placing the tire under load is carried out so as to create a strain level of at least 0.5 Kg/cm 2 . 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, wherein said ozone/gas mixture is formed from a mixture of ozone and air containing 0.1 to 1% ozone, wherein the load on the tire is 10-200 Kg to produce a deformation of 3-30%, and wherein the time period is 3 to 30 minutes.